Bishop Lavis parents and learners locked the gates to a local school saying they would only open when an ill teacher was replaced.
But hours later the Western Cape Education Department had a substitute teacher at Lavisrylaan primary.
More than 50 learners, parents and the Bishop Lavis Action Community(BLAC) closed the school.
BLAC member Gwen Davids says they’ve tried to engage with the WCED numerous times.
“The teacher has been away for two years. This year, she didn’t come to the school; every week her leave was extended,” Davids says.
“I don’t understand why the department didn’t just give her the package.
“We actually confirmed that the teacher is, in fact, in hospital, but the department failed to replace her. They had to wait the whole first term to end before bringing in someone.”
She says their concern was that the Grade 2 learners would end up dropping out and become corner boys.
“We don’t want to see the kids grow up without a purpose and become gangsters or smoke drugs.
“They are all eager to learn, and after we saw the new teacher we told the principal that the kids should go to school every day so they can catch up with their school work.”
WCED spokesperson Millicent Merton says: “It was due to parents’ frustration about a teacher being on sick leave during the first term. When it became evident that the teacher would be on extended sick leave, the WCED appointed a substitute teacher for the remainder of the term.